Stories by Monique Steele
News
Timaru meatworks shuts its doors after 138 years
Red-meat co-op Alliance says it will be an "emotional time" for the 55 remaining meat workers at its Smithfield plant today.
'Oh heck': Farmer says quad bike accident was a wake-up call
The warning comes as rural insurer FMG says there is often a spike in quad bike roll-overs in the lead-up to Christmas.
Ni-Vanuatu fruit pickers 'worried' over fate of quake-affected relatives
Kiwifruit company Seeka is supporting 100 ni-Vanuatu fruit pickers helping with summer pruning to contact their families back home.
'No signs' of avian influenza outside of Otago farm
Further tests are being carried out to ensure there was no spread beyond the one farm.
Nearly two years on, Hawke's Bay marks post-cyclone milestone
The months following the cyclone were a "massive challenge", the taskforce lead says.
Months of getting prepared for highly pathogenic avian flu
Since a deadly strain of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, started circulating around the world, New Zealand government officials have been preparing for its arrival.
'It takes a special person to be a midwife out in the wop-wops'
Rural midwives have been finding themselves more and more stretched - on-call 24-7, and teamwork is key, one says.
Northland avocado growers hope Australian shortage will lift prices
Last season, bad weather in Aotearoa flooded the domestic market with lower quality fruit.
South Island backdrop as top rally drivers tackle gravel tracks
This year's rally features vehicles from all over the world, including cars such as Talbots, Escorts, Porsches and Lancias.
The cost of losing GE-free labelling on primary exports
A new report suggests they could be reduced by up to $10-20 billion in revenue each year.
Detecting and diagnosing mastitis in 15 minutes in the field
A New Zealand start-up wants to give farmers a tool similar to the Covid-19 rapid antigen test for detecting and diagnosing mastitis in the herd.
Shutting Timaru's Smithfield meatworks to cost Alliance more than $51m
The cost of shutting its Timaru meat works is costing the troubled red meat co-operative more than $51m.
Scheme putting vets in rural areas 'welcomed' but needs extending, says NZVA
Thirty-five graduate veterinarians will join rural areas in serious need of agricultural vets through the government's Voluntary Bonding Scheme.
NZ AI tech company partners with Brazilian beef giant
MindHive Global was started in 2011, but soon pivoted to using AI to detect blemishes and grade the quality of hides at leather tanneries.
Dry conditions in Hawke's Bay put farmers on edge
Ongoing dry conditions across Hawke's Bay have farmers on a knife's edge.
Fresh herbs producer thrives as NZers get more 'creative' with cooking
A large producer of fresh herbs like coriander and basil is flourishing as New Zealanders become more adventurous in the kitchen.
Growers warn vege prices will soar if production not priority in freshwater reform
Growers want commercial vegetable production to be a "priority of national significance" in freshwater regulations.
'Invisible' rural communities need more targeted mental health support
Advocates want the government to address health inequities people living in rural communities face, in efforts to improve outcomes for those living outside main centres.
Growers ponder ways to make mushrooms more appealing
The sector is hoping to spawn a fungi revival to get more of the healthy food item onto kitchen tables to boost grower returns.
Delay before new quarantine facility opens for plant, seed testing
MPI has pushed out the opening date for the facility that will test imported plant material by at least five months.
New Zealand's rate of afforestation worrying, Beef and Lamb NZ says
Latest figures show at least 261,000 hectares of sheep and beef farmland have been converted into forestry since 2017.
Hawke's Bay A&P Show packs a lot into two days
Organisers of the Hawke's Bay A&P Show say pulling back the iconic event from three days to two will help keep it alive.
Geothermal power emissions used to create livestock feed
A new project is looking at creating animal feed from the greenhouse gas emissions that come from geothermal power stations.
Dreaded moth problem a 'myth', 'overstated' - industry
New Zealand wool carpet companies are insisting wool-eating insects and pests are not as common as people think.
US citrus growers warn NZ about disease infestation
The growers championed disease prevention ahead of Citrus New Zealand's conference on Wednesday.